Panjim could lose out on development!Government yet to forward City Plan to JNURM

The Goa government’s apathy towards Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) could be Panjim’s loss!
Two years after Panjim was selected for mega funding for city development under the JNURM, not a single penny has been sanctioned by the central urban development ministry. The reason being that till date the State government has not forwarded the City Development Plan (CDP) -- the prime requirement under the JNURM.The City Development Plan, if one recalls was prepared by the Corporation of the City of Panaji through its consultant HUDCO and was approved at a special meeting convened by the CCP in February this year but is awaiting the final approval of the State’s monitoring committee.Interestingly, city corporations in other States grouped along with Goa’s Panjim City Corporation have bagged crores of rupees under the first-come first-serve and unlimited funding, raising apprehensions whether CCP would be left high and dry.According to data available with this paper, city corporations of Calcutta and Howra have collectively received the sanction of Rs 955 crore for 12 projects under development projects for water supply and sewerage.Nasik City Corporation has been sanctioned Rs 198 crore for four projects for developing water supply systems and underground drainages.Nagpur City Corporation has been sanctioned Rs 910 crore for 13 projects for developing water supply systems, water leakage detection programme, water audit, energy audit, water re-cycling and re-use project and many more.The Ahmedabad City Corporation has been sanctioned Rs 1400 crore for 15 projects and Rajkot City Corporation has been sanctioned Rs 85 crore for 3 projects.The Mayor of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Tony Rodrigues expressed dismay that no progress had been made even after the CCP took all initiatives to study, prepare and approve the City Development Plan.“The CCP also introduced the double accounting accrual system required under the JNURM,” he said fearing that the delay in the submission of the CDP to the central urban development ministry would be a great loss for the CCP having envisaged mega development works under the JNURM for the capital city.The Secretary for Urban Development R P Pal when contacted by this paper today said, “The CDP is under examination of the State’s monitoring committee,” adding further that “as soon as the final approval was accorded that the same would be sent to the government of India”.Herald understands that the CDP is presently pending approval of the State’s urban development ministry.
BY HERALD REPORTER